Portable fire extinguisher construction

ABSTRACT

A portable fire extinguisher comprises a container having a tubular neck which is sealed by a membrane. A hollow piston in the container is held adjacent the bottom wall by a spring clamp. A powder fire extinguishing material is loaded into the container above the piston and the interior space above the piston which contains the powder is pressurized by a gas such as air. In addition the space within the piston is pressurized by gas alone which flows during filling around a sealing ring arranged around the piston which is effective to permit a lesser flow rate in the opposite directions when the contents are discharged. The contents are emptiable out of the container by the movement of a nozzle member to puncture a membrane to permit the flow of the powder under pressure to the fire. The decrease in pressure above the piston due to the outflow of powder and gas causes the piston to disengage from the bottom spring clamp and move upwardly to aid in the discharge of the complete contents.

United States Patent I 72] Inventor Carl-Johan Llndeherg Mlntta, Flnland 2: Appl. No. 195,230 [22] Filed Jan. 30, 1969 [45] Patented June 8, 1971 [73] Assignee G. A. Se'rlnchlus 0y Mantta, Finland [54] PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER CONSTRUCTION 7 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

[52] 11.8. (I v 169/31, 169/33, 239/309, 239/322, 222/389 [51] Int. (I A62c 13/26 [50] Field of Search 239/302, 309, 337, 321, 322; 169/30, 31, 33; 222/4, 83, 389, 402.16; 143/3, 16

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,732,017 H1956 Fleming l69/2X 3,105,458 10/1963 Downham 169/31X 3,245,591 4/1966 Kneusel et al. 222/389 3,272,387 9/1966 Katz et al 222/389X 3,381,863 5/1968 Towns..... ZZZ/389x 2,888,208 5/1959 Fedit 239/309X Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Michael Y. Mar Attorney-McClew and Toren ABSTRACT: A portable fire extinguisher comprises a container having a tubular neck which is sealed by a membrane. A hollow piston in the container is held adjacent the bottom wall by a spring clamp. A powder fire extinguishing material is loaded into the container above the piston and the interior space above the piston which contains the powder is pressurized by a gas such as air. In addition the space within the piston is pressurized by gas alone which flows during filling around a sealing ring arranged around the piston which is effective to pennit a lesser flow rate in the opposite directions when the contents are discharged. The contents are emptiable out of the container by the movement of a nozzle member to puncture a membrane to permit the flow of the powder under pressure to the tire. The decrease in pressure above the piston due to the outflow of powder and gas causes the piston to disengage from the bottom spring clamp and move upwardly to aid in the discharge of the complete contents.

PAIENTEDJUN 8l97l 3583491 IN VE N TOR. C'JRL- Jail/11V Ll/VGFBERG ATTORNEYS PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISIIER CONSTRUCTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates, in general, to fire extinguishers and in particular to a new and useful fire extinguisher comprising a container having a piston therein arranged for upward movement to discharge a powder fire extinguisher material when the container is opened to relieve the pressure therein.

It is known to provide a powder-type fire extinguisher which includes a rising tube which extends substantially over the entire height of the container. The space surrounding the tube is charged with a powder formed material and a pressurized gas. The container is sealed above the rising tube by a sealing membrane which is punctured when it is desired to empty the contents of the container in the vicinity of a fire. The gas within the container forces the powder up through the rising tube and out through the nozzle which is connected thereto at the top of the vessel. While such fire extinguishers are effective they have the disadvantage that the container must always be maintained in a vertical position in order to ensure uniform discharge. This is in conflict with the requirement that the nozzle be capable of being directed at any desired angle toward the center of the fire. The construction therefore requires the use of a hose or other connecting member in order to be able to maintain the container in the vertical position but to still direct the contents at the desired angle and location.

Attempts to use a device, such as a movable piston for eliminating such a disadvantage, have been made, but they have the disadvantage that they involve a separate pressure source or pressure chamber which renders the device complicated in construction and difficult to operate, and in some instances unreliable in operation due to the possibility of the great leakage.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a device which includes a container having a powder mixture therein for fighting fires but which does not require a nozzle or hose for the centering of the discharge from the container. in addition, the device does not require a rising tube nor an extraneous pressure source and it can be used in any desired position without impeding the uniform discharge of the powder. The container of the invention is filled with a powdered material above a hollow scalable cylindrical piston member which is held adjacent the bottom wall of the container by a spring clamp. The space on the interior of the piston is charged with air under pressure similar to the space containing the powder, and this is made possible by providing a gasket which permits the flow of air around the ends of the piston and into the hollow space enclosed thereby above the bottom of the container. The material is discharged from the container by puncturing'a membrane contained in a neck portion of the container and this is advantageously done by displacing a nozzle member with a striking pin in an axial direction to contact the membrane and break the latter. This LII also has the effect of connecting the nozzle member to the powdered material inside the container which discharges through the nozzle member for fighting the fire. As the gas and powder escape from the upper portion of the container, the pressure within the cylinder becomes substantially greater than the pressure within the container above the piston, so that it begins moving upwardly toward the top. The hollow piston member will not move until a pressure in-the space above it reduces by an amount sufficient to cause release of improved fire extinguishing device having an interior space with a hollow piston member therein which is held adjacent the bottom of the container by a spring clip, the space above the piston being charged with a powdered fire fighting material and the entire piston being charged with a gas under pressure, and wherein the contents of the container are connected for discharge through a nozzle by puncturing the top thereof, the piston being movable, after reduction of pressure by the discharge of some of the air and the powdered material, upwardly toward the discharge by the pressure differential which causes release of the spring clamp.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable fire extinguishing apparatus which includes a powdered material under pressure within a container in which there is a piston member which is adapted to move upwardly to aid in the discharge of the powdered material when the apparatus is in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguishing device which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the Drawing The only FIGURE of the drawing is an axial sectional view of a fire extinguisher device constructed in accordance with the invention.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing in particular, the invention embodied therein comprises a portable fire extinguisher generally designated 20 which includes a cylindrical container 5 having a neck portion 22 with a membrane or seal 3 thereover which seals the opened end of the neck 22. The membrane 3 covers the discharge opening for a powdered fire extinguishing medium and a pressurized gas such as air under pressure which are loaded into the container. The exterior of the neck portion 22 is provided with a base or receiving channel 10 which is advantageously loosely engaged with a nozzle member 4 in a manner permitting the axial movement of the nozzle member in respect thereto. The portion 10 provides a guide for the nozzle member 4 to permit it to be moved downwardly to cause a striking pin 7 attached thereto to puncture the membrane 3 and to connect an interior passage 4a of the nozzle member to the interior of the container to facilitate the discharge of the products therein through the passage of the nozzle member.

In accordance with the invention the interior of the con tainer 5 is divided into two portions, namely a powder and gas space 1 and a gas space 8, the latter being defined within the interior of a hollow piston member 2 which opens at its lower or bottom end adjacent a bottom wall 5a of the container. In accordance with a feature of the construction an annular gasket member 6 is provided adjacent the upper edge of the piston 2 and preferably consists of a sliding gasket which engages the inner surface of the container 5. The gasket is formed so that air under pressure may flow around the side of the piston and into the space 8 during the charging operation in which the powder in the space 1 will also be placed under pressure. A spring clip 9 arranged on the bottom wall 5a engages a projection 2a of the piston 2 and holds the piston in the lowermost position shown in the drawings during the filling and charging of the container.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The space above the piston 2 is charged with the powdered material of a suitable composition for extinguishing fires. Thereafter, the container is charged with a suitable pressurized gas such as air which may, for example, be admitted to the upper space 1. The gas will also penetrate past the gasket 6 into the gas space 8 inside the piston 2. Thereafter the container is sealed by applying the membrane 3 over the opening in the neck portion 22. During all this time the piston 2 is secured in place by means of the spring clamp 9 engaging over the projection 2a carried on the wall of the piston 2.

When the extinguisher is to be used the membrane 3 is punctured by forcing the nozzle 4 downwardly to cause the striking pin 7 to penetrate through the membrane 3 and to connect the passage 4a to the interior of the container. This may be carried out, for example, by striking the head of the device against the floor. This permits the powdered material with the gas in the upper portion of the container 5 to pass through the passage 4a of the nozzle 4 and to spray it onto the fire. The device will continue to operate regardless of orientation of the container and its nozzle in respect to the fire. As the powder and gas of the upper portion of the container are discharged the pressure in the space 1 decreases. The higher pressure in the space 8 will cause the piston 2 to move upwardly. When the pressure differential between the space 8 and the upper space 1 becomes great enough the piston will disengage the spring clamp and begin moving upwardly. The gasket 6 which permits a minor leakage of gas from the space 8 to the powder space 1 prevents the pressure in the space 8 from decreasing as fast as in the space 1. The space I, being in communication with atmosphere through the discharge opening 4a, will rapidly decrease in pressure as the powdered material is discharged into the fire.

What I claim is:

l. A fire extinguisher, comprising a container having a discharge opening at one end which is sealed when not in operation, a hollow piston in said container occupying at least one-quarter quarter of the total volume of the interior of said container and having one end which is facing the discharge which is closed and an opposite end which is open, a fire extinguishing powder in the container in a powder space between the piston closed end and the discharge opening, said container being charged with gas under pressure in said powder space and in the space between said piston and the opposite side of said container, and sealing means around said piston between said piston and said container permitting only limited gas flow and powder flow from the powder space to the space within said piston on the opposite side of said container from the discharge opening and also permitting flow but to a lesser degree in the opposite direction in order to provide a gas in the powder space for discharging the powder with the gas.

2. A fire extinguisher, according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means comprises a sliding gasket around said piston.

3. A fire extinguisher, according to claim 1, including a nozzle member associated with said container and having a striking pin portion which may be moved against the closed discharge opening to open said closed discharge opening and communicate the interior of the container with said nozzle member.

4. A fire extinguisher, according to claim 1, wherein said container includes a raised neck portion adjacent said discharge opening, the discharge opening being closed by a sealing membrane, a nozzle engageable with the neck portion and having a discharge passage defined therethrough, said nozzle carrying a striking pin which projects in a direction toward the discharge opening, said nozzle cap member being movable toward the discharge opening to engage the striking pin with the membrane to puncture the membrane and permit discharge of the material within the container through the nozzle member.

5. A fire extinguisher, comprising a container having a discharge opening at one end which is sealed when not in operation, a hollow piston in said container occupying at least one-quarter of the total volume of the interior of said container and having an end which 18 facing the-discharge which is closed and an opposite end which is open, a fire extinguishing powder in the container in the space between the piston closed end and the discharge opening, said container being charged with gas under pressure, sealing means around said piston between said piston and said container permitting gas fiow from the space containing the powder to the space within said piston and the opposite side of said container from the discharge opening but at a lesser degree than it will flow in the opposite direction, and means for holding said piston at a spaced location from the discharge opening but permitting release thereof when the pressure within said piston exceeds that within the space between said piston and the discharge opening by a predetermined amount.

6. A fire extinguisher, comprising a container having a discharge opening at one end which is sealed when not in operation, a hollow piston in said container occupying at least one-quarter of the total volume of the interior of said container and having an end which is facing the discharge opening which is closed and an opposite end which is open, a fire extinguishing powder in the container in the space between the piston closed end and the discharge opening, said container being charged with gas under pressure, sealing means around said piston between said piston and said container permitting gas flow from the space containing the powder to the space within said piston and the opposite side of said container from the discharge opening but at a lesser degree than it will flow in the opposite direction, and a spring clip carried on the interior of said container adjacent the wall thereof which is opposite to said discharge opening, said piston being engageable by said spring clip to hold said position adjacent the opposite wall but permitting release of said piston during the discharge of the contents from the container when the pressure within the piston exceeds that in the space between the piston and th discharge opening. I

7. A fire extinguisher, comprising a container having a discharge opening at one end which is sealed when not in operation, a hollow piston in said container having an end which is facing the discharge opening which is closed and an opposite end which is open, the space between the piston closed end and the discharge opening being adapted to contain a fire extinguishing material and charged with gas under pressure, and sealing means around said piston between said piston and said container permitting gas flow and limited powder flow from the space above said piston to the space within said piston and the opposite side of said container from the discharge opening but at a lesser rate than it will flow in the opposite direction. 

1. A fire extinguisher, comprising a container having a discharge opening at one end which is sealed when not in operation, a hollow piston in said container occupying at least one-quarter quarter of the total volume of the interior of said container and having one end which is facing the discharge which is closed and an opposite end which is open, a fire extinguishing powder in the container in a powder space between the piston closed end and the discharge opening, said container being charged wIth gas under pressure in said powder space and in the space between said piston and the opposite side of said container, and sealing means around said piston between said piston and said container permitting only limited gas flow and powder flow from the powder space to the space within said piston on the opposite side of said container from the discharge opening and also permitting flow but to a lesser degree in the opposite direction in order to provide a gas in the powder space for discharging the powder with the gas.
 2. A fire extinguisher, according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means comprises a sliding gasket around said piston.
 3. A fire extinguisher, according to claim 1, including a nozzle member associated with said container and having a striking pin portion which may be moved against the closed discharge opening to open said closed discharge opening and communicate the interior of the container with said nozzle member.
 4. A fire extinguisher, according to claim 1, wherein said container includes a raised neck portion adjacent said discharge opening, the discharge opening being closed by a sealing membrane, a nozzle engageable with the neck portion and having a discharge passage defined therethrough, said nozzle carrying a striking pin which projects in a direction toward the discharge opening, said nozzle cap member being movable toward the discharge opening to engage the striking pin with the membrane to puncture the membrane and permit discharge of the material within the container through the nozzle member.
 5. A fire extinguisher, comprising a container having a discharge opening at one end which is sealed when not in operation, a hollow piston in said container occupying at least one-quarter of the total volume of the interior of said container and having an end which is facing the discharge which is closed and an opposite end which is open, a fire extinguishing powder in the container in the space between the piston closed end and the discharge opening, said container being charged with gas under pressure, sealing means around said piston between said piston and said container permitting gas flow from the space containing the powder to the space within said piston and the opposite side of said container from the discharge opening but at a lesser degree than it will flow in the opposite direction, and means for holding said piston at a spaced location from the discharge opening but permitting release thereof when the pressure within said piston exceeds that within the space between said piston and the discharge opening by a predetermined amount.
 6. A fire extinguisher, comprising a container having a discharge opening at one end which is sealed when not in operation, a hollow piston in said container occupying at least one-quarter of the total volume of the interior of said container and having an end which is facing the discharge opening which is closed and an opposite end which is open, a fire extinguishing powder in the container in the space between the piston closed end and the discharge opening, said container being charged with gas under pressure, sealing means around said piston between said piston and said container permitting gas flow from the space containing the powder to the space within said piston and the opposite side of said container from the discharge opening but at a lesser degree than it will flow in the opposite direction, and a spring clip carried on the interior of said container adjacent the wall thereof which is opposite to said discharge opening, said piston being engageable by said spring clip to hold said position adjacent the opposite wall but permitting release of said piston during the discharge of the contents from the container when the pressure within the piston exceeds that in the space between the piston and the discharge opening.
 7. A fire extinguisher, comprising a container having a discharge opening at one end which is sealed when not in operation, a hollow piston in said conTainer having an end which is facing the discharge opening which is closed and an opposite end which is open, the space between the piston closed end and the discharge opening being adapted to contain a fire extinguishing material and charged with gas under pressure, and sealing means around said piston between said piston and said container permitting gas flow and limited powder flow from the space above said piston to the space within said piston and the opposite side of said container from the discharge opening but at a lesser rate than it will flow in the opposite direction. 